Digital Nomad Visa comparison
Best European Digital Nomad Visas (2026): Portugal vs Spain vs Italy vs Greece
Four European countries run digital nomad visas, and they differ on the income you must show, who qualifies, how long they last, whether they cut your tax, and whether they build toward residence. This compares Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece side by side for 2026 - including where the tax breaks people expect do not actually apply.
Side by side
Portugal vs Spain vs Italy vs Greece (2026)
| Country | Minimum income | Who it's for | Duration | Tax angle | Leads to residence? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal (D8) | EUR 3,680/month (4x the EUR 920 minimum wage) | Remote employees & freelancers working for employers or clients outside Portugal | Stay visa of up to 1 year, or a residence visa then a 2-year residence permit, renewable for 3 years | Taxed as a resident if you stay; NHR is closed, IFICI is narrow | Yes - permanent residence after 5 yrs; citizenship after 10 yrs (7 for EU and Portuguese-speaking countries) |
| Spain | EUR 2,442/month (200% of the EUR 1,221 SMI) | Remote workers with a degree or 3 years' experience; freelancers max 20% of work for Spanish companies | Visa of up to 1 year from a consulate, or a residence permit of up to 3 years applied for in Spain, renewable for 2 years at a time | Employees with the telework visa can elect the Beckham regime (24% to EUR 600k, 47% above) | Yes - long-term residence after 5 yrs, citizenship generally after 10 |
| Italy | EUR 24,789/year (3x EUR 8,263.31), about EUR 2,066/month | Highly qualified non-EU remote workers (recognised degree, or 5 years' experience; 3 in ICT) | 1 year, renewable annually | No automatic break; ordinary tax unless a separate regime applies | Yes - renewable permit; citizenship after 10 yrs of genuine residence |
| Greece | EUR 3,500/month net (+20% spouse, +15% per child) | Remote workers for employers/clients outside Greece only | Visa of up to 12 months, then a 2-year residence permit (renewable while the conditions are met) | 50% relief does NOT apply: it needs a Greek employer or a business in Greece | Permit renewable; check how the time counts toward long-term residence and citizenship |
As of 2026. Income thresholds track each country's minimum wage or another annual index and reset each year. Tax treatment depends on whether you become resident (over 183 days) and is confirmed with a licensed adviser.
You want to settle and build toward citizenship
Portugal's D8 residence route and Spain's visa both lead to permanent residence after five years and citizenship later. Italy's permit is renewable but built around annual remote work; with Greece's nomad permit, check how the time counts toward long-term residence and citizenship before you rely on it.
You want to lower your tax while abroad
Be careful here - most of these visas confer no tax break by themselves. The clearest is Spain, where employee nomads can elect the 24% Beckham regime. Greece's 50% relief does NOT apply to a nomad (it needs a Greek employer or a business in Greece), and Portugal's NHR is closed. Spending over 183 days makes you a tax resident.
You want the easiest income requirement to meet
Italy's figure is the lowest on paper at EUR 24,789 a year (about EUR 2,066 a month), then Spain at EUR 2,442 a month. Both also ask for a degree or professional experience. Greece (EUR 3,500 net) and Portugal (EUR 3,680) sit higher.
You want flexibility on clients and stay
Portugal accepts both employees and freelancers, as long as the employer or clients are outside Portugal. Spain lets freelancers do up to 20% of their work for Spanish companies. Greece requires your work to be for employers or clients outside Greece. Italy's gate is the high-qualification rule. Match the visa to how and for whom you actually work.
Portugal D8 visa
Employees & freelancers; residence route to PR and citizenship.
Spain digital nomad visa
Lowest monthly income bar; 24% Beckham option for employees.
Italy digital nomad visa
Highly qualified only; EUR 30k insurance; renewable yearly.
Greece digital nomad visa
EUR 3,500/month net; foreign employers or clients only; visa of up to 12 months, then a 2-year permit.
Common questions
Questions before you choose a visa.
Which European digital nomad visa has the lowest income requirement?
Italy's is the lowest on paper: EUR 24,789 a year, about EUR 2,066 a month, plus a high-qualification rule. Spain asks for EUR 2,442 a month (200% of the EUR 1,221 minimum wage, as Spain's UGE states it; some advisers annualise it to about EUR 2,849). Greece requires EUR 3,500 a month net and Portugal EUR 3,680 a month. These figures track minimum wages or other annual indexes and change each year.
Do digital nomad visas come with a tax break?
Mostly not by default. Spain is the clearest: employee nomads with the telework visa can elect the Beckham regime (24% on employment income up to EUR 600,000). Greece has a 50% relief, but it does NOT apply to a digital nomad because it requires work for a Greek employer or a business in Greece, which the nomad visa rules out. Portugal's NHR is closed to new arrivals, and Italy's visa confers no automatic break. In all of them, spending more than 183 days a year makes you a tax resident.
Which digital nomad visas lead to permanent residence or citizenship?
Portugal's D8 residence route and Spain's visa both lead to permanent residence after five years and to citizenship later (under Lei Orgânica 1/2026, in force since 19 May 2026, Portugal requires 10 years of legal residence for most nationals and 7 for EU and Portuguese-speaking countries; Spain is generally 10 years). Italy's permit is renewable and citizenship is possible after 10 years of legal residence. Greece's nomad permit is renewable, but check with the Greek authorities how the time counts toward long-term residence and the 7-year citizenship requirement.
Can I work for local clients on these visas?
Mostly no. In Spain, freelancers may do up to 20% of their work for Spanish companies, and employees must work for companies outside Spain. Greece requires your employers and clients to be outside Greece, and Portugal's D8 is for work for employers or clients based outside Portugal. Italy's visa is built around remote work. If you intend to serve the local market, a digital nomad visa is usually the wrong route.
What makes Italy's digital nomad visa different?
Italy's visa is only for highly qualified workers. The Italian consulate in New York asks for a recognised degree, or a higher professional qualification with five years' experience (three for ICT executives and specialists), plus health insurance of at least EUR 30,000 and a lease, rental contract or deed for housing in Italy. Spain also asks for a degree or three years' experience. Italy's rules were set by a ministerial decree published on 4 April 2024.
How long does each visa last?
Portugal offers either a stay visa of up to one year or, on the residence route, a two-year permit that renews for three years. Spain gives a visa of up to one year from a consulate, or a residence permit of up to three years applied for inside Spain, renewable for two years at a time. Italy is one year, renewable annually. Greece gives a visa of up to 12 months, then a two-year residence permit you apply for before the visa expires.